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My eyes fall with the glass as it hits the floor and breaks into pieces, spilling sticky lime margarita mix all over the hard carpet.
I find the small trash can in the corner of the room and pick it up. Then, I carry it over to where the broken glass is on the floor. I bend down and begin putting the pieces into the trash can, just needing something to do while Eden deals with the shock of what I just told her.
She slowly bends down and grabs my hand before I can pick up another piece.
“What do you mean, you are getting married? You didn’t even have a boyfriend the last time I talked to you a year ago. How could you be getting married? I haven’t even met the man! I mean…this is just crazy. Who summons their best friend to a hotel room and then tells them they are getting married?” Eden stands and
starts pacing as she continues to ramble nonsense, trying to make sense of me.
I pick up the last piece of broken glass, leaving behind the margarita goop on the floor as I stand up.
“Sit outside with me. The ocean air will calm you down. I’ll answer all of your questions then,” I say, walking outside, hoping that Eden is going to follow me.
I take a deep breath when the air hits my face. I should move to the beach. I’d have a lot less anxiety if I lived here.
Eden takes her time in coming outside. We both stand, leaning against the railing, as we look out at the view of the ocean.
“This is better, isn’t it?”
Eden looks at me seriously. “No, it isn’t. Now, spill, Young.”
I sigh. “I’m eloping. I’m tired of running, Eden. I need a fresh start. I need to fight. I need to live again.”
“You should stop running. I told you, you were crazy for running in the first place. Arlo wasn’t going to fly thousands of miles to come after a woman he slept with one time. I don’t care that he saved your life. Anyone who does anything like that is just crazy.”
“Arlo’s crazy.”
Eden shakes her head. “No, he isn’t. He scared you. He messed with your head because he knew that you were easy to mess with. He knew that you had obsessive tendencies and that you would fall for it. That’s it. Arlo Carini is not coming after you. He isn’t going to kidnap you. He isn’t going to hold you captive. And he definitely isn’t going to kill you.”
I nod. I don’t believe her, but there is no reason to worry her.
“I know. That’s why I’m going to start living now instead of running.”
“Good. But why are you getting married? Do you even know the guy you are marrying, or is this just another one of your obsessions?”
“Of course I know the guy! Geesh, Eden, who do you think I am?”
Eden takes my hands and turns me to look at her. “You are my best friend. I love you, and I would do anything for you. But you’re also a little messed up. You’re obsessive. You grew up without a mother. You watched your father die a slow, torturous death. You’re fucked up, Nina, and I just want to protect you as much as I can.”
I laugh to keep from crying. “You know me so well.”
“I want to know what the hell you are doing, getting married, Nina.”
“I love him. Isn’t that a good enough reason?”
“For normal people, yes. For you, no.”
I sigh and then slump into one of the two plastic chairs outside.
Eden takes a seat in the other. “Who is this guy, Nina?”
“His name is Heath. He’s an artist. He’s tall, blond, and handsome. He understands me. He knows that I have obsessive tendencies, and he loves me anyway. The sex is amazing. And he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. He wants to marry me. We are going to travel the world together.”
“Why haven’t I met this wonderful Heath before?”
“Because I was scared. I was running. I didn’t want Arlo to find out.”
“I don’t believe you. When did you and Heath meet?”
